“It’s time to put on makeup…” From yesterday’s Tiswas reference by Seaford Mods, we connect to another humorous, if rather different style of children programme. Written by Sam Pottle and Jim Henson in 1976 – that truly enthralling, timeless opening song for every show of its five seasons, a vaudevillian delight fronted by Kermit the frog announcing the week’s special guest, and key players Crazy Harry on the triangle, Zoot on sax, Animal on the drums, and Rowlf at the piano. Trumpet Girl and conductor Nigel are also spotted in the pit. Then we have kickline chorus girls (a bewigged Janice, Miss Piggy, another Trumpet Girl, and a female Whatnot) and boys (a horned Whatnot monster, Blue Frackle, a Pig, and Green Frackle) crossing the stage, followed by various appearances of Fozzy the Bear, the wisecracking Stadtler and Waldorf in a box balcony, and many other variations including full-bodied monsters (including Sweetums, Timmy Monster, Thog, and two Mutations) dancing on stage. Finally the audience urges the performers to get on with the show, and it’s finished off by Gonzo. For fans of clever, funny, inventive children’s TV, and great music, particular for those who were children during its heyday of the 1977-1981, It doesn’t get much better than this. We sample the intros of the first four seasons to see a few permutations:
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